News

Oakland: Temescal Bank of the West robbed for fifth time in five weeks

By Kristin J. Bender Oakland Tribune

Posted:
01/16/2013 03:07:55 PM PST

Updated:
01/16/2013 03:59:48 PM PST

OAKLAND -- For a fifth time in about five weeks, the Bank of the West branch in the Temescal district has been robbed, and this time police say the robber was a repeat offender.

Police said the robber entered the bank at 4900 Telegraph Ave. at 12:21 p.m. Wednesday and handed a teller a note demanding money. He left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was seen, and no one was injured during the heist.

He is described as a black man, 25-30 years old, about 6 feet tall, with a slim build and a mustache. He was wearing a teal and purple New Orleans Hornets basketball team cap, a black jacket and black pants. Police believe he is the same man who robbed the bank on Dec. 6 and are now doubling the reward to $5,000 for information leading to arrest.

In the Dec. 6 robbery, a dye pack exploded in the money as the robber left the bank. The description of that man is similar to the description of the man who robbed the bank Wednesday, police said.

That Bank of the West branch was robbed three other times between Dec. 10 and Dec. 29. Police are also looking for three other men and a woman linked to the other December robberies.

The Oakland Police Department and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a rewards for information leading to any of the suspects. Anyone with information should call the major crimes unit at 510-238-3326. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers of Oakland at 510-777-8572 or 510-777-2805.